Leighton Baines remains odds-on to join Manchester United before the end of the transfer window despite the champions supposedly cooling their interest in the England man.

New United manager David Moyes has twice failed to land his former charge – with the Toffees rejecting an initial £12m bid and then labelling a £28m double swoop for Baines and team-mate Marouane Fellaini as “derisory and insulting” – and is said to have now turned his attention to Southampton youngster Luke Shaw.

The 18-year-old impressed for the south coast side last season and is valued at around £10m.

With the champions already boasting the likes of Patrice Evra and Alexander Buttner at left back it is very much a case of either/or rather than both with regard to Shaw and Baines.

However, despite the supposed interest in Shaw, Baines remains odds-on at 4/5 to swap Goodison Park for Old Trafford before the window closes.

And with the Red Devils desperate for midfield reinforcement – following the summer spending of rivals Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham – Moyes looks set to go back in for Fellaini too.

United have been frustrated in almost all of their transfer attempts thus far and Moyes could be forced to swallow his pride and return to Everton with an improved offer for the duo after incidents elsewhere diminished his options.

The new United gaffer has been credited with an interest in Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, with the former Spurs man reportedly angling for a move back to the Premier League.

However, with Xabi Alonso sidelined for around three months with a broken metatarsal, Real will be reluctant to part with the Croatian.

As such, Old Trafford is heavy favourite to be Fellaini’s place of work come September, with odds of 8/15 on the Belgian making the switch and 7/4 on him staying put.

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After studying for a degree in journalism and gaining his NCTJ, James contributed to a wide range of papers, online publications and broadcasters including the South London Press, Press Association and Sky Sports News before joining the Ladbrokes News team.